Public water system · MT0000289
ActiveMedicine Lake Town of
At a glance
Town of Medicine Lake (PWSID MT0000289) is an active community water system in Sheridan County, Montana. It reports serving 600 people through 170 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2017.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
600
Service connections
170
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Town of Medicine Lake compare with other water systems in Sheridan County?
By EPA's size categories, Town of Medicine Lake is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Sheridan County has 8 active public water systems, and Town of Medicine Lake is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 74% above the county average of 346 people per system, and accounts for 22% of the 2,764 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Montana, the 2,378 active systems average 489 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Town of Medicine Lake is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Montana has 853 active community water systems, 36% of the state's 2,378 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 212 Montana systems (8.9%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Town of Medicine Lake?
EPA lists Town of Medicine Lake as owned by a local government. The MT state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 5 of the 8 active systems in Sheridan County (63%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Town of Medicine Lake have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2017. The violations listed here began between January 2005 and December 2017. By type: 8 contaminant level above the legal limit and 4 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (4 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first. Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Town of Medicine Lake: frequently asked questions
Who runs Town of Medicine Lake?
Town of Medicine Lake (PWSID MT0000289) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MT state drinking water program.
How many people does Town of Medicine Lake serve?
Town of Medicine Lake reports serving 600 people through 170 service connections in Sheridan County, Montana.
Where does Town of Medicine Lake get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Town of Medicine Lake have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2017. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Town of Medicine Lake's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2017. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Town of Medicine Lake's water quality report?
As a community water system, Town of Medicine Lake must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Sheridan County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plentywood Water Department | Sheridan | 1,700 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Westby Town of | Sheridan | 172 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Outlook County Sewer and Water | Sheridan | 96 | Community | Groundwater |
| Antelope County Water and Sewer | Sheridan | 59 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Brush Lake State Park | Sheridan | 58 | Transient non-community | Purchased surface water |
| Sunset Camping LLC | Sheridan | 42 | Transient non-community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Medicine Lake Town of, PWSID MT0000289, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/medicine-lake-town-of-mt0000289 (data as of October 1, 2026).